Leak-proofing gussets on multi-wall paper and woven polypropylene packages or bags

ABSTRACT

Reclosable gusseted packages or bags have improved resistance to leaking or spilling through the gussets by way of glue or adhesive applied in the gussets in the areas proximate to the reclosable zipper of the bag. This can be done by applying a glue smear to the interior and exterior of the gusset walls; applying glue dots between the exterior facing walls of the gussets; or by applying the glue smear between the exterior facing walls of the gussets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improving the leak-proof orspill-resistant quality of gussets in reclosable packages, particularlythose made with multi-wall paper or woven polypropylene.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art of reclosable packages or bags, it is well known to usegussets between the front and rear walls to increase the capacity of thepackage or bag with only a small increase in the packaging material,such as multi-wall paper or polypropylene.

However, the use of gussets can increase the tendency for the contentsof the reclosable package or bag to leak from the gusset area proximateto the intersection of the package or bag walls and the zipper. Morespecifically, the contents can travel up the center of the package orbag, between the zipper profiles and out the gusset.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate orreduce the leakage of contents of a gusseted reclosable package or bagthrough the gussets proximate to the intersection of the zipper profilesand the package or bag walls.

This and other objects are attained by applying glue or adhesive to thewalls of the package or bag within the gusset proximate to the zipperassembly, typically within the gusseted area which is between the zipperflanges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially in phantom, of a prior art gussetedpackage or bag, showing the route through which contents mayinadvertently escape.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the gusseted walls of a reclosable package orbag, prior to application of a zipper assembly, illustrating where theglue or adhesive is applied in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along plane 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partially in phantom, of the gusseted package orbag of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partially in phantom, of a first alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional, partially exploded, view along plane 7-7 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, partially exploded, along plane 8-8 ofFIG. 6 (not including the zipper).

FIG. 9 is an alternative cross-sectional, partially exploded view, alongplane 4-4 of FIG. 3, thereby illustrating a second alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicatelike elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIG. 1 is aplan view, partially in phantom, of a prior art reclosable package orbag 100 and that FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof. The packageor bag 100 is formed from co-extensive front wall 102 and rear wall 104which are typically formed from polymeric materials (such as, but notlimited to, polyethylene or polypropylene, including wovenpolypropylene), multi-wall paper or laminates. Gussets 106, 108(illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 and in cross section in FIG. 2) areformed as inwardly pointing folds between the side edges of front andrear walls 102, 104, typically integral with, or at least of the samematerial as, front and rear walls 102, 104. Gusset 106 is formed fromgusset walls 106 a, 106 b in an inwardly pointing V-shaped configurationwhile gusset 108 is formed from gusset walls 108 a, 108 b in an inwardlypointing V-shaped configuration. The bottom edges of front and rearwalls 102, 104 are sealed or otherwise closed or joined to form bottom110. Mouth 112 is formed between the top edges of front and rear walls102, 104. Zipper assembly 200 is sealed, glued or otherwise secured tothe upper exterior of front and rear walls 102, 104. As shown best inFIG. 7, zipper assembly 200 includes first profile 202 and secondprofile 204 which are, referring back to FIG. 1, sealed together at ends205, 207. First profile 202 includes first interlocking element 206 andfirst flange 210. Second profile 204 includes second interlockingelement 208 and second flange 212. First and second flanges 210, 212 aresealed, glue or otherwise secured to the upper exterior of front andrear walls 102, 104, respectively. Typically, zipper assembly 200includes slider 214 mounted on first and second profiles 202, 204.Slider 214 operates in a conventional manner of interlocking first andsecond interlocking elements 206, 208 with each other when moved in afirst direction and separating first and second interlocking elements206, 208 when moved in a second direction. However, alternatively, firstand second interlocking elements 206, 208 may have a “press-to-close”configuration in which no slider is required.

As shown by the circuitous path indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, thisdesign is susceptible to contents within package or bag 100 traveling upthe center of the package or bag 100, between the first and secondflanges 210, 212 and out the gussets 106, 108. This leakage or spillageis illustrated for the first gusset 106 but is equally applicable to thesecond gusset 108.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, this leakage or spillage can be preventedor minimized by placing a smear of glue or adhesive 400, 402 in thegussets 106, 108 in the corner areas 300, 302. These smears can be onboth the internal and external sides of gusset walls 106 a, 106 b, 108 aand 108 b so that gusset wall 106 a is glued to the interior of frontwall 102 and to gusset wall 106 b; gusset wall 106 b is further glued tothe interior of rear wall 104; gusset wall 108 a is glued to theinterior of front wall 102 and to gusset wall 108 b; and gusset wall 108b is further glued to the interior of rear wall 104.

FIG. 5 shows, in phantom, glued areas 220, 222 which are formed betweenfirst and second profiles 202, 204. Glued areas 220, 222 are formed toblock off or gasket-close the space above the front and rear walls 102,104 and below the first and second interlocking elements 206, 208. Thisfurther provides the leak-proof characteristics of the package or bag100. An alternative configuration to create the desired gasket effect isto apply glue along the top of the gussets 106, 108 or on the gussets106, 108 and pressing the package or bag 100 so that the glue is urgedinto the space above the front and rear walls 102, 104 and below thefirst and second interlocking elements 206, 208.

In a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown inFIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a series of glue or adhesive dots 500 (shown in anexaggerated or elongated in the exploded views of FIGS. 7 and 8) isplaced between gusset walls 106 a, 106 b in corner area 300 and betweengusset walls 108 a, 108 b in corner area 302.

In a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown inFIG. 9, glue smear 400′ is placed between the external sides of gussetwalls 106 a, 106 b and glue smear 402′ is placed between the externalsides of gusset walls 108 a, 108 b. In other words, in this secondalternative embodiment, glue smears 400′, 402′ are intended to glue therespective gusset walls together with minimal, if any, contact with theinterior of front and rear walls 102, 104.

The resulting package or bag 100 has reduced leakage and can be filled,transported and used in the same way as similar packages or bags.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are mosteffectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should beunderstood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and itsscope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

1. A reclosable package or bag comprising: a first wall and a secondwall; a first gusset formed between a first edge of the first wall and afirst edge of the second wall; a second gusset formed between a secondedge of the first wall and a second edge of the second wall; a mouthformed between a top edge of the first sheet and a top edge of thesecond sheet; a reclosable zipper secured to the first and second wallsproximate the mouth; and glue or adhesive applied to the first gussetand to the second gusset to minimize leakage through the first andsecond gussets.
 2. The reclosable package or bag of claim 1 wherein theglue or adhesive is applied to the first gusset and the second gusset inat least an area proximate to the reclosable zipper.
 3. The reclosablepackage or bag of claim 2 wherein the first gusset and the second gusseteach include a first gusset wall and a second gusset wall.
 4. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 3 wherein each first gusset wall andrespective second gusset wall form an inwardly pointing V-shape.
 5. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 4 wherein the first gusset walls andthe second gusset walls are formed of a same material as the first walland the second wall.
 6. The reclosable package or bag of claim 5 whereinthe first gusset walls and the second gusset walls are formed integrallywith the first wall and the second wall.
 7. The reclosable package orbag of claim 4 wherein the glue or adhesive is applied onto an interiorand an exterior of a portion of the first and second gusset walls. 8.The reclosable package or bag of claim 4 wherein the glue or adhesive isapplied onto an exterior of a portion of the first and second gussetwalls and interior of the first and second gusset walls is substantiallyfree of the glue or adhesive.
 9. The reclosable package or bag of claim8 wherein the glue or adhesive is applied as a series of dots.
 10. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 1 wherein the reclosable zipperincludes a first profile attached to the first wall, a second profileattached to the second wall, and a slider to interlock the first andsecond profiles when moved in a first direction and to separate thefirst and second profiles when moved in a second direction.
 11. Areclosable package or bag comprising: a wall structure with a top mouthand a closed bottom; at least one gusset formed in the wall structure; areclosable zipper secured to the wall structure proximate the mouth; andglue or adhesive applied to the at least one gusset to minimize leakagethrough the first and second gussets.
 12. The reclosable package or bagof claim 11 wherein the glue or adhesive is applied to the at least onegusset in at least an area proximate to the reclosable zipper.
 13. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 12 wherein the at least one gussetincludes a first gusset wall and a second gusset wall.
 14. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 13 wherein the first gusset wall andthe second gusset wall form an inwardly pointing V-shape.
 15. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 14 wherein the first gusset wall andthe second gusset wall are formed of a same material as the wallstructure.
 16. The reclosable package or bag of claim 15 wherein thefirst gusset wall and the second gusset wall are formed integrally withthe wall structure.
 17. The reclosable package or bag of claim 14wherein the glue or adhesive is applied onto an interior and an exteriorof a portion of the first and second gusset walls.
 18. The reclosablepackage or bag of claim 14 wherein the glue or adhesive is applied ontoan exterior of a portion of the first and second gusset walls andinterior of the first and second gusset walls is substantially free ofthe glue or adhesive.
 19. The reclosable package or bag of claim 18wherein the glue or adhesive is applied as a series of dots.
 20. Thereclosable package or bag of claim 11 wherein the reclosable zipperincludes a first profile and a second profile attached to the wallstructure, and a slider to interlock the first and second profiles whenmoved in a first direction and to separate the first and second profileswhen moved in a second direction.